Finafloxacin hydrochloride, an important clinical compound was synthesized by a novel synthetic approach. An active intermediate ethyl 7-chloro-8-cyano-1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-4- oxo-1, 4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylate 19 was prepared by a new route. The chiral (S, S′)-N-Boc 10 was derived from protected pyrrolidine and the absolute stereochemistry was established by X-ray analysis.